Don’t miss this $50 bonus for the online shopping you already do

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If you shop online, you might be missing out on hundreds — or even thousands — of dollars in rewards each year.

Rakuten, one of the most popular online shopping portals, lets you earn free cash back or American Express Membership Rewards points on everyday purchases. Even better, through September 30, 2025, new users can currently snag a $50 bonus after signing up and making their first qualifying purchase — the highest offer we've seen thus far.

For travelers in particular, Rakuten is a game-changer because it turns your online shopping into a steady stream of points and miles you can later redeem for flights and hotel stays.

Here’s everything you need to know about how Rakuten works, how to maximize rewards, and why you should add it to your travel strategy.

Rakuten is a free online shopping portal that partners with more than 3,500 popular retailers, like Backcountry.com, Sephora, Nike, Macy's, Expedia, and more, allowing you to earn rewards every time you shop.

Using Rakuten truly takes less than an extra minute of your time. Instead of going to the retailer’s website directly, you start your shopping journey through Rakuten.com, its mobile app, or the Rakuten Chrome browser extension.

When you click through Rakuten to make a purchase, Rakuten tracks the sale and rewards you with a percentage back. You're then taken directly to the retailer's website and continue your shopping experience as you would normally. The website is exactly the same, and so are the prices. The only difference is that you are now earning cash back or Amex Membership Rewards points.

Getting started with Rakuten is quick and simple:

• Create a free Rakuten account online or through the app.
• Select your earning preference: cash back or American Express Membership Rewards points.
• Spend $50 or more through Rakuten within the first 90 days of signing up to qualify for the $50 sign-up bonus. This particular bonus goes through September 30, 2025, so you'll want to make sure to sign up by this date.

You must use a ​referral link​ to get this $50 offer, so you can either use ours here at Points Path (and we greatly appreciate it if you do), or you can ask your friends and family who already use Rakuten for one.

It's truly as simple as that. And once your purchase is confirmed by the retailer, your rewards typically hit your account within a few days (although some retailers can take a few months).

And to make sure you're never missing out, you'll want to make sure to install the Rakuten Chrome browser extension. With this, every time you are on a partner retailer's site, you'll receive a small pop-up reminding you to activate your rewards. It'll also inform you of any coupon codes or promotions, allowing you to stack your savings.

For frequent online shoppers or travelers booking flights and hotels, this tool ensures you never miss out on extra cash back or points. Just note that Rakuten pays out quarterly, so you will not receive a check or a transfer of Amex points after every single purchase.

Most Rakuten shoppers opt for cash back, but for those who understand the value of points and miles, there's an even better option: earning Amex Membership Rewards points. And fortunately, the earning rate is incredibly favorable; you're earning points at a 1-to-1 ratio.

Here’s what that means: If a retailer offers 10% cash back, you can instead earn 10 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent. This means if you spend $100 at that specific retailer, you'll earn 1,000 Amex points.

Amex points are incredibly valuable, as they can be transferred to 20 travel partners, such as Delta Air Lines, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, and more.

If you value Amex points at around 2 cents apiece, the 1,000 points earned are worth $20. If you prefer to earn cash back instead, that same purchase will give you $10 in cash back.

When signing up with Rakuten, your account will automatically be set to cash back. If you prefer to earn points, you'll need to change your earning preference in your account settings and select the "Switch to Membership Rewards points" option. You'll then need to connect your Amex account. Only cash back earned going forward will convert to Amex points, not cash back that has been previously earned.

Rakuten is one of the simplest and most effective tools to stack your savings when shopping online. With a $50 new-member bonus, the ability to earn either cash back or Amex Membership Rewards points, and the convenience of the Chrome extension, Rakuten makes sure you’re always rewarded for the shopping you were already going to do.

For travelers, the Membership Rewards option is the real standout. Turning everyday purchases into a steady stream of airline miles and hotel points can unlock incredible travel opportunities at no extra cost.